Ratchet-wrench.



C. I1. BONINE.

RATCHET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23,1911.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

CHARLES E. IBONIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RATCHET-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18,1913.

i Application filed August 23, 1911. Serial No. 645,600.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be :it known that I, CHARLES E. BQNINE, of Philadelphia, in the county of'Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet-Wrenches, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. v

My invention relates to ratchet wrenches of the type used for turning nuts, bolts, or` the like, Vby an Voscillating motion of the wrench handle. l My invention relates to a ratchet wrench with a reversible instrumentality whereby a pawl may be spring-pressed, either into or out of engagement with the ratchet piece. 4

In its preferred form my invention provides opposed pawls with means for the ready reversal of their action, so that the toolmay be used either as a right hand or a left hand wrench at the same time providing for the 1manual operation of the disengaged or idle pawl, whereby it may be put into service against the action of the reversing device, as is useful for certain specific purposes lhereinafter described.

As I have illustrated my invention in the drawings, it is embodied in a ratchet Wrench, particularly adapted for opening and closing the hopper doors of dump cars, but `it will be understood that the scope of my invention is not thus limited.l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a plan view of a wrench embodying my invention. Fig. II, is an elevation of the same. Fig. III, is a partial sectional view on an enlarged scale of the operative end of the Wrench. Fig. IV, is a section along the line IV, IV, of Figs. I, II, and III.

The handle of the wrench l, is provided with a handy grip 2, at oneendand at the other enlarged end with a circular opening 3, within which fits the rotating ratchet part 4, provided interiorly with an .opening shaped to engage a nut or a polygonal shaft, and on its outer periphery with teeth 5, for engagement in both directions with one or the other of the pawls 6, and 6b, pivotally mounted in the handle. The ratchet part is capable of rotating in either direction within the opening 3, being held to the proper plane of rotation by the provision of a semi-circular groove 7, which is opposite to a complemental groove 8, the two forming a continuous tube filled with balls 9, intro duced through an opening 10, which is subsequently closed with the screw 11, to pre vent the escape of the balls.

The pawls 6, and 6b, are pivoted on pins 15, mounted in the handle. Each pawl is further provided near its pivotal end wit-h opposed arms 16, and 17 against which a reversing device 18, operates. These arms are on opposite sides of the pivot of the pawl, so that the reversing device will press the pawl in one direction or the other, according as it is turned to engage one or the other of these arms. The pawls when pressed out of action are prevented by the .projections 19, from moving beyond a desired point.

The reversing device 18, is in form a sleeve 22, containing a coiled spring 23, which is in compression between twofwcaring ends 24, 2l, sliding freely in the circular recess of the sleeve and forced outwardly by the spring. The reversing device is pivoted at 28, its extreme positions in both directions being limited by the lug 26. The reversing device is manually operated by the thumb wing 25, by means of which itcan be thrown to one or the other extremity of its swing,

and according to which position it is placed will the wearing ends engage simultaneously ditl'erent arms of the two pawls so that if one is ressed upon the ratchet, the other is presse( away from it and vice versa.

` The pawls 6, and 6", are provided withl pads, or bosses 27, which form convenient extensions against which the thumb may be pressed when it is desired to operate either pawl temporarily against the action of the spring contained in the reversing device.

The method of operating the wrench is as follows: Consider the ho per door of a dump 4car closed andthe oad of material resting on.the same, the ratchet piece 4, opening placed upon the square end of the shaft, by which the hopper door is operated, the reversing device 18, being set in the position shown. The pawl 6b, is now pressed manually against the tension of the spring '23, and the wrench handle is turned down until this pawl engages the next tooth on the ratchet piece. Sufficient pressure is applied to take the pressure ofi' the customary detent by which the shaft is held with the door closed, so that this detent may be manually released. The wrench is now holding the load through the pawl 6b, and if the thumb be removed from pad 17, this pawl will be lheld in the same engagement by friction. If now the handle be suddenly raised the pawl 6b, will be as suddenly relieved of the friction load holding it and will fly out of engagement, under the pressure of spring 23. The ratchet will thus be allowed to run in a direction to allow the hopper door to drop its load without the whole wrench rotating about the axis of the shaft, as does the solid type of car wrench now in use, which therefore operates with great danger to the workman. The hopper door having been thus opened and the car discharged of its load, the position of the device 18, is now reversed and the pawl 6b, brought into engagement with the ratchet piece 4. l By an ordinary ratchet motion the door of the car is now easily moved to closed position, without the necessity of removing or replacing the wrench on the squared shaft, hence in the minimum time and without danger to the operator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim y 1. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a toothed ratchet piece; a pair of opposed pawls mounted on pivots fixed in relation to the ratchet piece, one on either side thereof, so as to be capable of engagQ` ing the teeth of the ratchet in opposite directions; and a reversible instrumentality pivoted between the pivots of the pawls and capable of exerting' spring pressure simultaneously in two directions, whereby when swung on its pivot into one position it presses one pawl into and the other out of engagement Vwith, the ratchet piece, while when swung to the other position, it presses the first mentioned pawl out of and the other into engagement,

2. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a toothed ratchet piece; a pair'of opposed pawls mounted on pivots' ixed in relation to' the ratchet piece,` one on either side thereof, so as to be capable of engaging thel teeth of the ratchet in opposite direcand a reversible instrumentality pivoted between the pivots of the pawls, and capable of exerting spring pressure simultaneously in two directions, whereby when swung on its pivot into one position it presses one pawl into and the other .out of engagement with the ratchet piece, While when swung to the other position, it presses the first mentioned pawl out of and the 3. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a toothed ratchet piece; a pair of opposed pawls mounted on pivots fixed in relation to the ratchet piece, and capable of engaging its teeth in opposite directions; arms on each pawl, one on either side of its pivot; a spring pressed reversing device pivoted between the pivots of said pawls, and capable of so engaging the arms of the pawls, as to simultaneously press one into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet piece, and the other out of such engagement and vice versa, according as the reversing device is swung to one or the other of its extreme positions.

4. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a ratchet piece;` a pair of opposed pawls mounted on pivots fixed in relation to the ratchet piece, and one on either side thereof in position to engage the teethof the ratchet piece in opposite directions 5' and a reversing device exerting spring pressure at each extremity andpivoted sofas to be capable of alternative positions in one of which one pawl is spring pressed into and the other spring pressed out of engagement 4with the ratchet piece, whiley in the other position these functions are reversed.`

5. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of the ratchet piece; a pivoted pawl; and a pivoted instrumentality capable of assuming two Vpositions in one of which it exerts spring pressure between the pivoted pawl and its tooth to'press it out of engagement with the ratchet piece, while in the other position it exerts spring pressure on the side of the pivot away from the tooth to press it into engagement with the ratchet piece.

In testimony whereof, Il have hereunto 

